Some officers, especially those with dependents, will receive about $200 less a month than those already in the county.

Kevin Stone, spokesman for the Monterey County Association of Realtors, said he was grateful and encouraged by Farr's letter.

"I think if (the DOD) looks at some of the unique circumstances involved in our housing market — and, specifically, rental market — then they will have a much better understanding how that adjustment in this county wasn't really applicable," he said.

He said an example is vast differences in costs on the Peninsula compared to inland.

Efforts to reach the DOD were unsuccessful.

The department said in a news release last month that it will spend $20 billion in housing for about 1 million service members this year at more than 350 military housing areas.